BC would pocket $1-billion in tax revenue over 25 years, while $73-billion would flow to Alberta and Ontario would get $4-billion

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KAMLOOPS (NEWS1130) – A new report on the Enbridge pipeline says BC would be far behind Alberta and Ontario when it comes to getting tax revenue from the proposed project.

The report by the Canadian Energy Research Institute concludes BC would pocket $1-billion in tax revenue over 25 years, while $73-billion would flow to Alberta and Ontario would get $4-billion.

Premier Christy Clark has vowed to try and block the project if BC doesn’t have a greater say in how the financial rewards are divided, although Alberta’s premier has rebuffed the notion of sharing the money.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Kinder Morgan says the company has fully expected the B.C. government to impose conditions for its proposed pipeline expansion project, similar to those laid out for energy giant Enbridge Inc.

Andrew Galarnyk says the company wasn’t caught off guard when Environment Minister Terry Lake said it too must provide superior spill prevention and response systems before the province will consider a plan to expand the Trans Mountain pipeline, which runs from Alberta to Vancouver.

Lake has also said BC must get a greater share of revenue from the project, and Galarnyk says that would have to be negotiated between the two governments.

Alberta Premier Alison Redford has rebuffed BC Premier Christy Clark’s demands for greater financial benefits for the province, which would bear most of the environmental risks of a potential oil spill.

Federal environmental hearings are continuing for Calgary-based Enbridge’s proposed $6-billion Northern Gateway pipeline, which would flow crude from Alberta’s tar sands to a port on B.C.’s north coast for export to Asia.